Civil 3D provides powerful automation tools to significantly speed up the process for producing topographic maps from raw field data. It requires some preparation and training to customize several data management tools and refine their use in the field. During field data collection, information is entered into the description of the point collected. In the office, during download, it is processed using specialized Civil 3D tools. The end result is automatic line generation while importing the field book, automatic placement of special point symbols (with scale and rotation considerations), automatic placement of refined point descriptions, and automatic creation of topo breaklines for surface creation. All points, are instantly sorted, grouped, layered, and processed in seconds. As a practical application, it could process a one-acre tree survey in a few minutes and require less than 1/2 hour to complete the map by placing each tree block by type of tree and size of tree and giving a refined description properly rotated and ready for final display.
There are three main tools which need to be customized and implemented into the drawing template:
Description Key Set
This tool is the workhorse of the description key automation
You can edit each description key in the panorama spreadsheet or create one in Excel and import it into Civil 3D
For each raw description it allows specific decisions to be made for the point properties
Point Style
Point Label Style
Layer
Scale
Rotation
Group
Symbol
Final Map display label
You can make as many Description Key sets as types of surveys and maps as you need
Tree size and size of Tree symbol can be automatically set
Final display of the point label can be very refined
a raw 10 woak produces a finished description label of 10" WHITE OAK TREE
Point Style
Point Style is the symbol placed on the map at the point location.
It can be a standard 'X' or a block symbol
There can be a different point style (read tree symbol) for every description key
White Oak
Red Oak
Scarlet Oak
White Pine
Virginia Pine
Sweet Gum
Point Label Style
Point Label Style is the way to display the actual text of the point in the map
Point Label Style controls
Layer
Text size
Text font
Text Rotation
Text location relative to the insertion point
Label contents
Point Number
Point Name
Point Coordinates
Point elevation
Raw Description
Full Description
scale factor
convergence
etc
You can make a special label style for special types of surveys
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